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Chamundeshwari Temple, Mysore: timings, darshan tickets and the 1,008 steps
The temple of Chamundeshwari on Chamundi Hill is open for darshan every day from 7:30 to 14:00 and from 15:30 to 18:00, according to the temple authority and Karnataka Tourism. General darshan is free; paid special-darshan tickets shorten the queue. The temple is about 13 km from Mysuru: KSRTC buses run up from the city bus stand, a road climbs to the top, and pilgrims walk the 1,008 stone steps.
The city's second great site is the Shree Chamundeshwari Devi Temple, atop Chamundi Hill, which rises about 300 meters above Mysore (around 1,000 m above sea level). It's a stunning place, both for its setting and its energy. From the top, the whole of Mysore opens up below, and the temple itself seems to float above the city.
You can get up in three ways: on foot up the historic staircase of 1,000 steps (built back in 1659), by car, or by bike along the switchback road. The bike is the best option: the ride is beautiful, and parking is easier up top.
The queues (darshan). The temple has several queues for entry to the deity:
- free - a bit pricier - pricier still (special darshan)
The difference between the expensive and the cheap queue is not always noticeable, so don't automatically overpay; size up the queue lengths on the spot. In season and on weekends it can get crowded, so it's best to come in the morning.
The temple on the golden hill
Opening hours
Official hours: chamundeshwaritemple.in · checked 4 September 2026
Tickets
Before you go
Darshan timings
The main block on the temple authority's home page gives one schedule for every day of the week:
- Darshan and pooja: 7:30–14:00 and 15:30–18:00.
- Abhisheka (ritual bathing of the goddess): 6:00–7:30 and 18:00–19:30; on Fridays 5:00–6:30.
- Dasoha (free meals for devotees): 7:30–10:00, 12:00–15:30 and 19:30–21:00.
No weekly closing day is listed. The official site is not consistent: a second block on its home page adds an evening darshan window of 19:30–21:00, and the info box on its inner pages (About, Facilities) still shows 5:30–13:30 and 15:30–17:30. The main home-page block, the India GO visit card and Karnataka Tourism all give 7:30–14:00 and 15:30–18:00. Karnataka Tourism also notes that hours are extended for special poojas and festivals. Plan to be inside before 17:30 to be safe, and confirm any evening slot at the temple.
Free and special darshan tickets
Entry and general darshan are free. For a shorter queue the temple sells paid special-darshan tickets, including online through its own e-ticket page with "Regular" and "Ashada" categories; a printed copy of any online booking has to be shown at the temple. The site does not publish the prices openly.
The visit card above shows about ₹100 for special darshan: that figure comes from travel guides, and newer local press reports give different figures. On 6 June 2026 Star of Mysore reported the authority's statement that its ₹50 ticket counter (the paper calls it an entry ticket) had restarted after a brief technical halt. On 6 July 2026 UNI described ₹50 and ₹300 as the earlier special-darshan categories, dropped for the Ashada Fridays. On 14 August 2026 Star of Mysore reported that during Ashada 2026 only ₹2,000 special-darshan tickets were sold besides free darshan, with the ₹300 option withdrawn. Prices outside Ashada after that date are not confirmed by an official source.
The difference in waiting time between queues is not always large, so look at the length of each line before paying. In Ashada 2026 only 1.79% of visitors chose a paid ticket (Star of Mysore, 14 August 2026).
The 1,008 steps up Chamundi Hill
Karnataka Tourism counts 1,008 stone steps to the top; according to Wikipedia, the stairway was built in 1659 by Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar. Pilgrims climb barefoot, and many press a mark of kumkum (red powder) onto each step, so by afternoon much of the stair is red.
Roughly midway stands Nandi, Shiva's bull: 4.9 m tall and 7.6 m long, carved from a single block of black granite. The temple authority gives the hill's height as 3,489 ft (about 1,060 m) above sea level; the India GO guide puts it about 300 m above the city.
Start before sunrise: the stone heats up, and the queue at the top grows through the morning. The India GO database allows about two hours for the climb and the temple together.
👣 How to reach Chamundeshwari Temple from Mysuru
The temple stands about 13 km from Mysuru. There are three ways up.
- KSRTC bus
Buses run from the Mysuru city bus stand to the hilltop. The temple's home page says every 20 minutes, its facilities page every 30 minutes; either way there is no need to book. During Ashada 2026 KSRTC also ran buses from Shashiranjan Grounds and other points in the city.
- By road
A motorable road runs to the top from the Mysuru side, and a second one comes up the back of the hill from the Nanjangud side. There is parking for two- and four-wheelers on the hill. A rented scooter (from about ₹400 a day in Mysuru) fits the hill and the palace into one day; autos in Mysuru run on the meter, about ₹11 per km.
- On foot
The 1,008 steps, described above.
What to see on Chamundi Hill
Chamundeshwari, the fierce form of Durga who killed the buffalo-headed Mahishasura, is the presiding deity of Mysuru and the family deity of the Wodeyar kings.
The temple
A quadrangular Dravidian temple with a seven-tier gopura (gateway tower) crowned by seven golden kalashas. Krishnaraja Wodeyar III repaired the shrine in 1827, built the present gopura and gave the temple a lion vehicle still used in processions. The doorway is plated with silver.
Mahishasura statue
On the way to the temple: the demon with a sword in his right hand and a cobra in his left.
The view
From the hill the authority lists the Palace, Lalitha Mahal, Kukkarahalli Lake, St Philomena's Church and, far off, the Krishnarajasagar dam.
Best time to visit
Early morning gives the quietest darshan, Karnataka Tourism notes. Weekends and festival days are the busiest.
Ashada (the monsoon month, roughly July to early August) is the temple's peak: in 2026 the hill saw 8.61 lakh visitors in 13 days, and 1.25 lakh on the last Ashada Friday alone. The goddess's birthday falls on Ashada Krishna Saptami. Dasara in September–October is the other peak: the temple's own Dasara utsavas run for nine days, and during Dasara transport and hotels in Mysuru are booked solid.
Mysuru is comfortable all year; October to February is the most pleasant stretch.
✅ Rules and practical tips
- Shoes off — Footwear stays outside, and phones are not allowed inside (see the card above).
- No plastic — The hill is a declared no-plastic zone: do not bring plastic carry bags.
- Clothing — The temple's website publishes no written dress code; modest clothing is the safe choice.
- Prasadam and meals — Laddu prasadam is sold beside the temple; the free meals (dasoha) run at the hours listed above.
❓ FAQ
Is Chamundeshwari Temple closed today?
The temple authority's main schedule is the same every day, 7:30–14:00 and 15:30–18:00, with no weekly closing day; some pages of its site show other hours, so arrive before 17:30. Hours can be extended for festivals.
How do I get VIP or special darshan at Chamundi Hills?
Buy a special-darshan ticket at the temple counter or on the temple's e-ticket page, and bring a printout of an online booking. Prices come from the press, not the temple: UNI (6 July 2026) named ₹50 and ₹300 as the earlier categories, and Star of Mysore (14 August 2026) reported only ₹2,000 tickets during Ashada 2026.
Can we wear jeans to Chamundi Temple?
The temple's website publishes no dress code. Modest clothing is the safe choice, and shoes come off before entry.
What is the best time to visit Chamundi Hills?
Early morning on a weekday, when darshan is quietest. Avoid Ashada Fridays and Dasara unless you come for the festival.
How many steps are there to Chamundi Temple?
1,008 stone steps, built in 1659. The Nandi statue stands roughly halfway up.
Is there a bus from Mysuru to Chamundi Hill?
Yes. KSRTC buses leave the Mysuru city bus stand for the hilltop every 20–30 minutes, according to the temple's website.
Is there an entry fee?
No. Entry and general darshan are free; only the faster special-darshan queues are paid.
Sources (10)
- Sri Chamundeshwari Temple, Sri Chamundeshwari Development Authority (Government of Karnataka)
- About Sri Chamundeshwari Temple, Sri Chamundeshwari Development Authority
- Facilities atop Chamundi Hill, Sri Chamundeshwari Development Authority
- Utsavas and Jatras, Sri Chamundeshwari Development Authority
- e-ticket and e-seva booking, Sri Chamundeshwari Development Authority
- Chamundeshwari Temple, Karnataka Tourism
- Chamundi Hills, Wikipedia
- Chamundi Hill Authority clarifies on Rs.50 entry ticket, Star of Mysore (6 June 2026)
- Special Chamundi darshan ticket row, UNI (6 July 2026)
- 2026 Ashada season atop Chamundi Hill, Star of Mysore (14 August 2026)